A recent customer's concern led me to think that his question was a good question to post. It relates to getting multiple piercings in a single session. Here is the dialog we had regarding the issue he had;

Q: "I looked all over your site and couldn't find an answer. I have a question regarding the healing of helix piercing (specifically two on one ear) and snake bites. I saw the healing times and I wondered whether the piercing will be as painful as when first pierced for most of that time or if it lessens after a while (or completely goes away)."

A: "Good question. Like most wounds, the most painful part is during the initial injury of the tissue. Depending on the area pierced and the amount of external trauma the area receives post piercing (i.e. bumping or rubbing against clothing, objects, etc) will have an influence on the length and severity of the discomfort. For cartilage piercing, the biggest problems occur during sleep since the ear can receive direct pressure from your pillow. Other problems can occur from long hair or glasses getting caught in the jewelry. Tongues usually fair better and have often been described more as a dull thudding pain rather than a sharp or severe pain. Spicy or acidic foods can agravate a healing tongue and of course the occasional biting of the jewelry during eating can be awkward. "In general, you can expect most piercings to hurt anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of weeks with each succeeding day being better than the previous one. Typically the deeper the piercing, the longer it takes to heal. "Hope this answers your question."

Q: "Thanks for the quick answer. It did answer my question. However, I have another one. As I said in my last email, I'm thinking about getting two helix piercings on one ear, as well as snake bites. What would be your professional opinion on getting all of this done in one session?"

A: "The body is a very resilient machine. As long as you are healthy and in good shape, you should be able to handle three piercings with little difficulty. I do suggest you get plenty of sleep and a good meal prior to getting pierced. The body uses up lot of energy during the piercing session, even if it isn't physical in nature. Also keep in mind that your body will be healing multiple wounds afterward and therefore will require extra attention to that fact. In other words, don't go running a marathon or go on a long weekend party binge after getting all this done. Your body will suffer from it."

Q: "I have two more questions in regards to piercings. I want to get two helix piercings in one ear, and snakebites." 1) "What is your professional opinion on getting all of this done in one session?" 2) "What kind of jewelry would the piercings have to be until they heal? (i.e. Stud, captive bead ring, etc)"

A: "Piercing takes a toll on the body. Not only while undergoing the procedure but also in the healing process. While it seems strange to think of the body exerting energy while you are "just sitting" for a piercing, the body is undergoing an attack and it's defenses are in high gear. "I have heard of people getting upwards of fifty piercings in a single sitting. They all tell of how exhausted they feel after the sessions (along with a certain euphoria). Getting four, as in your case, should not be a problem so long as you are in good health (i.e. not feeling sick or run down) and have had plenty of sleep and food. Getting multiple piercings in a single session also saves you money as I offer discounts on multiple piercings. "As for jewelry; Helix piercing uses a small captive bead ring. It looks good and it's easy to keep clean. Snakebites rely on captive rings to give the semblance of fangs but I have also done those with studs (though with studs the piercing is not really a "snake bite" piercing. "Hope this answers your question."